Our paths were not likely to cross, which makes our story even better! Ankita grew up in Maryland, while Alex was overseas and in Virginia. We went to different schools with different degrees and interests. We also came from separate cultures and backgrounds. A stroke of luck brought us together at our first jobs at the same consulting firm, working on a client project together for all of 2018. We didn’t know it immediately, but there were sparks of potential love flying around in that windowless, bleak conference room that we spent all that time sitting inside. First, our friendship grew intensely. We would wait until all our teammates left the room to take a breather and talk to each other. Ankita would share all her homemade snacks with Alex, while Alex would leave surprise Hershey’s kisses at her laptop. Next, we realized that the more we got to know each other, the more traits we saw in each other that we deeply valued and wanted in a life partner. Our unassuming friendship led to the most organic start of an incredibly loving relationship. The past few years, we have gone from just finding ways to spend time together during the worldwide COVID pandemic, to traveling different parts of the world, and becoming totally engrained with each other’s friends, families, and lives. We are kindred spirits, reading each others’ minds, constantly making each other laugh, and supporting each other through all the ups and downs of life! It did not take too long for us to realize we are meant to be. Everything culminated with Alex’s proposal to Ankita in Miami on March 1st, 2024. Alex took great care to plan a weekend to remember with an unexpected proposal and a hidden photographer to capture the perfect moment. It turns out that Alex’s attempted veil of “let’s have an away weekend for my birthday” was a dead giveaway from the beginning. Ankita was actually not surprised and the photographer was in the wrong place and not hidden…. she still said YES and we did have an amazing weekend! As the wedding day approaches this year, we are extremely excited to share a wonderful slew of events together with all the people that we love most in our lives! Let the countdown begin.